You are here

Authorizes litigation to compel Barr and McGahn documents and testimony

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today voted for and the House passed a resolution authorizing lawsuits to compel Attorney General William Barr and former White House Counsel Don McGahn to comply with House Judiciary Committee subpoenas and provide requested documents and testimony. Among the documents requested of Barr is Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s unredacted report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. The resolution also allows all committees to go directly to court to enforce subpoenas without another full House vote.

The vote was 229 to 191.

Prior to the vote, Congressman Cohen participated in the floor debate. See his speech here.

In those remarks, he said:

“This is an opportunity for Congress to reassert itself as an equal branch of government…This president has thumbed his nose at the representatives of the people. He has not complied with lawful requests for documentation and lawful requests for testimony for Congress to do its constitutionally delegated purpose of oversight of the Executive and laws that are necessary for the betterment of this nation…

“I’m proud of Congress for debating these bills and I’m shocked at the opposition for not wanting the People’s House – their House, their legislative body -- to stand up for future Congresses, as well as this Congress, for the rightful power that it deserves to do oversight.”